Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

George Porter Jr.: ''To me, syncopation is like jazz. It wasn't meant for the masses. It was meant just for a hip few". (DownBeat, May 2025).

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

17985(and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 306 of them this year alone and, so far, 62 this month (April 26).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Tue 29: ???

Wed 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 30: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 30: International Jazz Day @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £16.00.; £14.00. adv.. Feat. Guido Spannocchi, John Pope & Steve Hanley + Take it to the Bridge participants + Open Mic Night participants.

MAY 2025

Thu 01: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Member’s Contribution.
Thu 01: Alabaster de Plume @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Thu 01: Living in Shadows + OUTRI @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: The Shayo Experiment @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Shayo Oshodi & Liam Oliver.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Anna Reay & Deon Krishnan @ STACK, Seaburn. 4:30-6:15pm. Free.
Fri 02: Nauta @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:00pm. £7.50. A ‘Nauta’s House’ gig featuring Nauta & guests Shayo Oshodi & David Gray.
Fri 02: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 02: Dom Pipkin @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Solo piano.
Fri 02: Abbie Finn Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00. + bf.

Sat 03: Hot Fingers @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Summer Samba Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 03: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Postmodern Jukebox @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Sat 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £3.00. + bf.
Sat 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 03: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:30pm. Free.

Sun 04: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 04: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 04: Ben Crosland Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 05: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Friday, May 19, 2023

Jazz at the Lit & Phil: The Windy City Weatherbirds - May 19

(© Lance)
Magnus Pickering (long model cornet, vocals); Joe Pickering (reeds); Daniel Pickering (trombone); Harrison Dolphin (guitar); Paul Grainger (bass); Robbie Ellison (drums)

It was like being at Newcastle's legendary New Orleans' Club back in the day. All that was missing was the smoke, the drunks and the mic. This latter item would have been handy to have. Otherwise, we could have been listening to those jazzmen who sailed under the flag of Panama or those of the River City Jazzmen. Both bands executed (in more ways than one) a brand of Dixieland cum Chicago that set the benchmark for this style in Newcastle.

(© Patti D)
Up from London, the Windy City Weatherbirds, fronted by the brothers Pickering (reminds me of the Christie Brothers Stompers), delved deep into the Chicago/Dixieland songbook soloing with retrospective authenticity.

I referred earlier to the lack of a mic. This was a two-edged sword. Certainly it would have enhanced Magnus' vocals had he been given that extra sonority so essential when singing these days. In fairness he did okay no doubt helped by the house acoustics plus, had he had a mic it would have amplified a couple of faux pas he made in his announcements.

Bob Crosby didn't play clarinet and, At the Jazz Band Ball although recorded by Muggsy Spanier's Ragtimers wasn't an actual rag and they weren't a big band either.

Still, that's just me nitpicking which is something I couldn't do regarding the music which was superb.

All the three front line siblings (silently) boast of their achievements over several different genres and they have the technique to handle them.

Unusually, for a Dixie outfit, drummer Ellison used predominantly brushes and it was no worse for that.

The beautifully named Harrison Dolphin played acoustic guitar amped up by the only mic (am I reading more into this than I should?)

Stepping in at the eleventh hour was local 'boy' Paul Grainger on bass. Paul is rapidly evolving on the local scene as both bass player and gig organiser - indeed he is involved with tonight's gig by the band at The Vault in Hexham.

This was different from the usual bill of fayre at the Lit and Phil but that is the strength of these monthly gigs - quality and diversity is what Russell delivers.

One of the many comments I heard as I was leaving: 'Wasn't it great to hear young musicians playing jazz like this?' 

She was right! Lance

South Rampart Street Parade; I Wish I Could Shimmy Like my Sister Kate; If I Had You; At the Jazz Band Ball; Fools Rush in; I'm Crazy 'Bout my Baby; Lazy River; Riverboat Shuffle; Ain't Misbehavin'; Sweet Sue - Just You; 'S Wonderful; That's A-Plenty; Big Butter and Egg Man.

1 comment :

NeilC said...

I enjoyed the gig . I,like you Lance, thought putting songs with vocals in without a mic was a huge risk that didn't really pay off . The musicianship was excellent but I felt for Magnus who appeared quite nervous. The addition of having to perform vocals without a microphone to playing the cornet proved a huge challenge. Having failed to play a clarinet at school I am in awe of anyone who can play it and I thought Joe was outstanding . A really enjoyable hour in a very convivial venue.

Blog Archive